The "Know-It-All"

Proverbs 18:2,13,15,21: "A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions . . . . He who answers before listening-that is his folly and shame . . . . The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out . . . . The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."

Have you ever met a "know-it-all?" You know, the one who has all the answers. This is the person who never listens to others, but who is looking for an opportunity to break in with his own opinion. His mouth is a constant flow of pride and self-centeredness. When one attempts to share a word of admonition, he quickly prepares for a verbal defense and chides the one who would dare challenge him.

The scriptures tell us that the heart of the discerning is willing to seek knowledge by listening to the wisdom of others. He acquires knowledge because he is humble enough to know that he doesn't know it all. His heart is unlocked to any directive that God or others would share with him.

The tragedy of the prideful, "know-it-all" is that he never comes to the awareness of his arrogance. He continues to spill his verbal venom at others, bringing about his own disdain. People will choose to avoid being around him; and in the end he finds himself without friends, purpose, and fulfillment. Even worse, his pride prevents him from hearing the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

If you stopped and completed a self-diagnosis of yourself, whom would you find? Would you see a person who is averse to the words of admonition from others? Do you thrive in interrupting others to share your "vast knowledge" of everything under the sun? Maybe it's time to seek the Lord with a repentant heart and ask that He break down the walls of pride in your life. Remember, God has given you two ears and only one mouth. Sounds to me like you need to be listening twice as much as you are talking. Learn to control your tongue so that you may enjoy the choice fruit of a blessed life.